Sunday, December 24, 2006

OK, so this is how Week 16 appears to be shaping up, particularly how it affects Week 17, as I sit here pondering how the AFC Wild Card picture may have just been indelibly affected by a bungled would-be-game-tying extra-point by the Bengals:

The NFC playoff picture is wonderfully mediocre: It's a battle to see which .500 team will make the playoffs! (I love it: The inevitable result of the league's relentless pursuit of parity. Now watch the .500 playoff team win the freaking conference title.)

The AFC playoff picture is wonderfully competitive: Think about the teams that are involved -- Jets? Titans? Who would have predicted that back in August?

And it looks like next week's regular season finale is going to include a bunch of de facto playoff games for the Wild Card spots in both conferences, with 12 teams battling for 4 spots:

Looking ahead in the NFC: With at least 8 wins, the Eagles (controlling their own destiny) host the stumbling 7-8 Falcons. The other 7-8 contenders in action, in order of easiest-to-hardest match-ups: RAMS at Vikings, GIANTS at Redskins, PANTHERS at Saints, PACKERS at Bears.Looking ahead in the AFC: The Jets have the inside track (especially if they can get win No. 9 on Monday night), playing Oakland. The Titans have it roughest, hosting the Pats. Intriguingly, the 8-7 Jags play the 8-7 Chiefs. Cincy hosts the looking-to-spoil Steelers. Denver (controlling their own destiny) hosts the 49ers.

Come on: Who doesn't love a complex "playoff scenario" breakdown?!

Earlier posts:

How can anyone NOT be rooting for the Titans and Vince Young to make the playoffs! What a story! 6 wins in a row and contention in the AFC!

And it appears the NFC has nearly mathematically assured that at least one playoff team will be no better than .500. If the Eagles beat the Giants tomorrow, it's a guarantee! Embrace mediocrity!

(The AFC Wild Cards, meanwhile, are totally up for grabs, making next week full of de facto playoff games and scoreboard-watching!)

Let me just jump in: What a Rookie of the Year race! All the top contenders took it up a notch today:

Maurice Jones-Drew? With today's 2 TDs, he's got 12, which on Monday will be Top 5 in TDs among all NFL RBs. And he's going to have nearly 900 yards rushing... on a team with another RB who has more than 1,100 yards. That's wild. If you factor in the expectations based on his draft status and backfield competition, he's been amazing.

Speaking of draft expectations, how about Marques Colston? He's got another TD today, and unlike MJ-D, Colston's team is a Super Bowl contender, certainly in large part thanks to the unexpected contributions of the rookie.

(Please stop pushing Reggie Bush as ROY. Even with today's 126 rushing yards and TD, he's not even the best rookie on his own team. The Saints ROY is Colston. If draft position and expectations actually did play into ROY voting, how could Colston be denied? A 7th-round pick from Hofstra? NO ONE saw his season coming. Continues to be one of the season's most amazing stories. Bush? Hell, wasn't this what everyone expected? His slow start puts him behind the others.)

Then there's Vince Young. QB is the hardest position for a rookie to step in and be effective in, but VY has made it look easy. Today's game was possibly his most complete yet: 2 TDs passing, 1 TD rushing. 13/20 for 183 yards, with 8 rushes at nearly 8 ypc. And, of course, managing a late drive leading to the winning FG, which is becoming a signature. Oh, and the Titans are suddenly an 8-7 playoff contender in the AFC, which is actually saying something huge. In the NFC right now, they'd be considered a Top 3 team. (Sort of makes you wonder if keeping VY on the bench to start the season enabled this late-season push... or cost the Titans early wins -- after that gruesome 0-5 start -- that will ultimately keep them out of the playoffs.)

Colts give up 153 and 2 TD's to Ron Freaking DAYNE!!!! What would be the Over/Under on Tomlinson rush yards vs the Colts???? 250? We NEED to see that matchup in the playoffs, but that requires Indy to actually WIN a game, maybe 2. It's really a shame. Arguable best RB of all-time (at least Best season by a RB) vs the Worst Rush D in history.

Anybody else looking for every single "contender" in the NFC Wild Card race to lose and get what I'm assuming would be the first 7-9 playoff team??

The 49ers were robbed. The refs allowed Arizona's FG (miss) to count, thereby changing the entire complexion of the game. And, how many times did the ref point the wrong direction? That would be once on a 49er fumble recovery and once on a penalty. Do you think that officiating team will be asked to the playoffs. NOT!

Then, we have Alex Smith (HORRIBLE!) I don't seem to understand why he has so many interceptions with short passes. Oh, maybe, if he consistently overthrows his receivers with his supposed accurate arm coming out of college, ya think? Yes, he came back to Earth. Do you think he started believing his hype?

Bengals lost...not celebrating Christmas. The NFL once again pays the refs to fuck them over. The Bengals want to say, "Hey kids, you can go to the playoffs with a team of thugs...just look at us!" The NFL says, "Fuck no you aren't!"

I love what Colston has done but BUSH DESERVES consideration for ROY as well.

Colston has 70 receptions for 1,038 yards and 8 TDs on a team where he had a chance to move to the top of the rotation of recievers.

Meanwhile, Reggie Bush, who is stuck behind Deuce MacAlister had 152 rushes for 545 yards and 5 TDs, plus a team high 86 receptions for another 729 yards and 2 TDs. Then he also added 28 punt returns for another 216 yards and a score. Thats 1,490 yards on 266 all purpose touches.

Yet when Favre goes 13/20 for 183 yards, he is washed up. Vince Young is impressive with those stats only because they keep winning games somehow. Soon enough he will lose some of those games, and his shitty days will be exposed.

Pardon the long post but I have some thoughts about the NYG game yesterday. 1) Where was Brandon Jacobs yesterday? For all the (embarassing) mistakes Giants players have made this year, did Jacobs' fumble last week really result in him not playing yesterday? Moreover, Tiki has been a great Giant - despite lacking jewelry - but in what other "job" can you announce your resignation 3 months early and maintain full responsibility until the last minute? Bench Tiki - pass the baton!2) Why wasn't Coughlin fired weeks ago? Not because of the W (or L) column but because of his inability to instill discipline in the team AND, more importantly, because he clearly is not smart enough to make reasonable/logical calls. From personnel choice (substituting play makers out of the game following a great play) to play calling, fans and hopefully owners have seen some of the dumbest decisions.

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DanShanoff.com is a sports-blog spin-off of my long-time ESPN.com column, "The Daily Quickie." Anchored by an early-morning post of must-know topics, the blog is updated frequently throughout the day with new posts and user comments.